COVID-19 Update & Resources for the Construction Industry

 

WorkSafeBC Resources:

Resources and information on the COVID-19 pandemic for the construction industry.

Book online for Statutory Declaration appointment. SICA's COVID-19 Safety Plan

Need Assistance? 

SICA and our partners are dedicated to helping you navigate through these challenging times. If you have questions that are not answered here, please email us.

Starting April 6th, BCCSA will be hosting a live video conference call to answer all your COVID-19 related construction questions. These sessions will be held all week and could continue depending on demand. Click here to join.

The construction sector is united in the fight against COVID-19. Read the op-ed published in the Vancouver Sun on May 29, 2020, co-signed by 21 leading industry organizations, including SICA.

Index

  1. Member Contributions
  2. Accounting 
  3. Association Updates & Resources
  4. Government Updates & Resources
  5. Human Resources
  6. Insurance & Surety
  7. Legal Resources
  8. Pandemic Planning
  9. Safety Resources
  10. Virtual Hotline

*Member Contributions

Ledcor Construction Limited

Accounting 

 

BDO Canada

MNP LLP

Canadian Construction Association

BDC 

Association Resources

Government Updates & Resources

Supply Products and Services to Support BC's COVID-19 Response

Are you a business that can supply products and services in support of B.C.'s COVID-19 response? As worldwide demand increases, the B.C. Government is looking for both medical and non-medical products and services to help with the response.

Click here for more information

Government Construction Project Updates

Government Health Updates

Government Updates

Human Resources

SICA's Employee Benefit Plan & FSEAP

  • BCCA Employee Benefits Crisis Relief Plan
    • The Crisis Relief Plan is a temporary measure to help you maintain benefits for you, your employees, and their families through premium/contribution relief and plan administration relief.
  • FSEAP - Coronavirus Tip Sheet

Working from Home Tips

 

Insurance & Surety

Aon Reed Stenhouse Inc. - COVID Response Site 

CapriCMW

Dolden Wallace Folick LLP

 

Legal Resources

  • Construction Connect - Legal Notes: Could COVID-19 trigger 'force majeure' in contracts? 
  • Construction Contracts & COVID-19 May 2020 | Tyler Galbraith, Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP 
  • Construction Contracts & COVID-19 March 2020 | Tyler Galbraith, Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP
  • Updated Content: COVID-19 and "Force Majeure" Clause
    • Once Coronavirus and COVID-19 became known, it can be argued that it no longer qualifies as a force majeure event
    • Coronavirus and COVID-19 may disrupt construction supply chains and workforce availability. We asked our contract experts if CCDC2 clauses provide protection for contractors in these circumstances.  Here are the basics:
      • The virus falls under the definition of force majeure in CCDC section 6.5.3.4:
        • "any cause beyond the Contractor's control other than one resulting from a default or breach of Contract by the Contractor"
      • This grants an extension of time only (not money):
        •  the Contract Time shall be extended
          for such reasonable time as the Consultant may recommend in consultation with the Contractor. The extension of time shall not be less than the time lost as the result of the event causing the delay, unless the Contractor agrees to a shorter extension.
        • The Contractor shall not be entitled to payment for costs incurred by such delays unless such delays result from actions by the Owner, Consultant or anyone employed or engaged by them directly or indirectly
      • Time is of the essence:
        • 6.5.4 -notify within 10 days of the delay, or lose the right of delay claim.

​This is information only and is not offered and should not be treated as legal advice

 

Pandemic Planning & Business Continuity  

 

Safety Resources

BC Construction Safety Alliance Resources:

Resources by BCCSA are constantly updated, please check their website for the most recent version.

Canadian Construction Association

Council of Construction Associations

  • COVID-19 Help Line: COCA has set up a member Help Desk for COVID-19 WorkSafeBC-related questions and concerns in an effort to expedite and, where possible, provide interim answers to your questions. Please forward COCA your questions in their template to covidhelpdesk@cocabc.ca.

WorkSafeBC Resources:

Public Health Agency of Canada Downloadable Fact Sheets

​Workforce Tips

  • Employer obligations are:
    • Reasonable precautions
    • Communication of hazards
    • Training
  • Reasonable precautions include:
    • Written plan
    • Education on infection prevention (handwashing etc.)
    • Require employees to stay home if sick
    • Require employees to stay home if they have traveled to an affected area
    • Require employees to report the location of travel
    • Post signs to communicate these instructions
    • Regular cleaning
    • Make disinfectants available
    • Engage a third-party medical advisor
    • You are required to report to WCB within 3 days if you think an employee contracted COVID-19 during employment.
  • Employment & Social Development Canada

Virtual Hotline

At an unprecedented time like this, communicating your situation to us is more important than ever. We are asking you to keep us informed by filling out the COVID-19 Virtual Hotline Survey. Together, with the BC Construction Association and the 3 other Regional Construction Associations of BC, we are gathering feedback and questions on how the COVID-19 pandemic affects the construction industry. 

Virtual Hotline

The input will be monitored each day and a team of industry experts has been formed to support us in our response to you and to government:

  • Canadian Construction Association
  • BC Ministry of Finance
  • Partnerships BC
  • CBRE Ltd
  • Council Of Construction Associations
  • BCCA Employee Benefit Trust
  • WorkSafeBC
  • BC Construction Safety Alliance
  • Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP
  • Myers Norris Penny (MNP)
  • Pace Communications
  • Jouta Performance
  • Group Wylie-Crump Ltd

Every night the BC Construction Association is emailing an update based on questions/comments received on the hotline, subscribe here.